Tool fileDesk: Text
SillyTavern review
Quick answer
Free, open-source and fully private with your own models, but you must install it and bring a backend.
Free: Free and open source (AGPL-3.0). Paid: Free; model costs depend on the chosen backend.
Best for: Self-hosted roleplay with any model.
At a glance
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
- Allows: Any content the chosen model permits, Local models with no hosted service, Character cards and World Info
- Content rules: No content rules of its own; docs say hosted models are often censored, so limits come from the backend.
- Privacy and training: Runs locally and does not track user data; with self-hosted models all text stays on the user's PC.
- Age verification: No age verification; it is self-hosted software.
SillyTavern
- Official site
- sillytavern.app
- Free tier
- Free and open source (AGPL-3.0)GitHub repository (opens in new tab), checked
- From
- Free; model costs depend on the chosen backend (Local models are free apart from hardware)GitHub repository (opens in new tab), checked
- Best for
- Self-hosted roleplay with any model
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
- Models and context
- Front-end only; connects to OpenAI-compatible APIs, KoboldAI, Tabby, AI Horde and local backends.
- Characters and tools
- World Info lorebooks, group chats, personas, Data Bank RAG, a scripting engine and extensions.
- Content rules
- No content rules of its own; docs say hosted models are often censored, so limits come from the backend.
- Message limits
- No message limits in the software; speed and limits depend on the backend or local hardware.Docs FAQ (opens in new tab), checked
- Privacy and training
- Runs locally and does not track user data; with self-hosted models all text stays on the user's PC.
- Age verification
- No age verification; it is self-hosted software.
- User reports
- No public reviews found.
- Last checked
- by Margot Vale
Strengths
- Free and open source
- Full local privacy with self-hosted models
- Lorebooks, group chats and scripting
- Works with many model providers
Weaknesses
- Needs installation with Node.js
- No built-in model; user must supply a backend
- Local models need a capable GPU
- No official support channel or reviews
Our notes
SillyTavern is a free, open-source front-end that runs on the user’s own computer and connects to local or hosted language models. It has no hosted service and sets no content rules, so the limits come from the chosen model provider. It includes lorebooks, group chats and a scripting engine.
Check log
The vendor pages we read, the date we read them and what they said. These are document checks of published pages.
| Date | Checked | Found |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub repository (opens in new tab) | Price: Free; model costs depend on the chosen backend (Local models are free apart from hardware)Free tier: Free and open source (AGPL-3.0) | |
| Docs FAQ (opens in new tab) | Message limits: No message limits in the software; speed and limits depend on the backend or local hardware. |
Sources
Appears in
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SillyTavern alternatives
Text desk →| Tool | Free tier | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JanitorAI | Free chat with standard models and about 9K context | janitor+ $12.99/month or $99/year | Free community character roleplay |
| NovelAI | Paper trial: 50 text, 30 image and 100 TTS generations | Tablet $10/month | Private long-form story writing |
| Chub AI | One-time trial credits for a few dozen messages; free with own API key or local model | $20/month | Open character chat with own models |
| AI Dungeon | Free story models with 2k-4K context | Journey $14.99/month | Text adventure and interactive fiction |
| SpicyChat AI | Free tier with 4,096-token context and default models | Get A Taste $5.95/month | Free NSFW character chat |
| CrushOn.AI | 100 message credits per month; free models unlimited | Standard $4.90/month billed yearly ($58.88/yr) | Credit-based NSFW character chat |